Why Library and Information Science? The Results of a Career Survey of MLIS Students Along with Implications for Reference Librarians and Recruitment

• Published in: Reference and user services quarterly 2006-03, Vol.45 (3), p.236-248
• Main Authors: Ard, Allyson, Clemmons, Susan, Morgan, Nathan, Sessions, Patrick, Spencer, Brett, Tidwell, Tracy, West, Patricia J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academic libraries; Beliefs; Career choice; Career preparation; Careers; College students; Education; Evaluation; Exact sciences and technology; Hearing; Information and communication sciences; Information professionals; Information science; Information Science Education; Information science. Documentation; Information service management; Job Placement; Labor Force; Librarians; Librarianship; Libraries; Library Administration; Library and documentation centre management; Library Associations; Library operations; Library Personnel; Library science; Library Services; Library students; Library surveys; Literature Reviews; Motivation; Personnel Selection; Polls & surveys; Professional recruitment; Public Relations; Questionnaires; Recruitment; Reference librarians; Reference work; Sciences and techniques of general use; Search Committees (Personnel); Student recruitment; Student surveys; Study and teaching; Surveys; USA; User service management
• ISSN: 1094-9054; 2163-5242

Hearing why the librarians of tomorrow chose the library profession is vital, because understanding their motivations provides librarians with a glimpse of the future as well as ways to improve that future for the profession. This article therefore seeks to communicate the career motivations of MLIS students by reporting the results of a survey conducted at the University of Alabama's School of Library and Information Studies. Library administrators and others responsible for hiring information professionals will want to hear the library students' reasons for entering the field, their salary expectations, geographic preferences, perceptions of the job market, and interest in various subfields. However, all librarians should seek to learn more about students' career motivations and professional interests so that they can recruit more people to the profession and accommodate the needs of new colleagues. By using the survey results as a springboard, we propose several recruitment strategies with an emphasis on the key role of reference librarians in future campaigns. We also recommend that RUSA sponsor annual surveys similar to our own questionnaire so that the profession can adopt an informed approach to the recruitment dilemma.